When I came out, everyone was super supportive. I am so lucky to be in a community of friends (in boarding school) where almost everyone is also LGBTQ+. When I came out to my friends here, they all were so happy and now we are forming a coalition to help my roommate begin questioning her sexuality, as we both come from pretty rural conservative towns and hadn’t really thought about it before. I still haven’t come out to my family at home yet, and am pretty nervous but am glad I have my friends here and at home (who I came out to over a Zoom call; they were very supportive and happy as well) to support me. I am planning to tell my brother first, as I know he will be accepting and knows more about LGBTQ+ than my parents, who are more of the accepting of their gay coworkers but very awkward around anything gay type, and I don’t really know how they will react. (F/14/Pansexual)
Story #2244
When I came out, I studied in an all boys, Catholic private school. I was closeted and scared at the time. I wanted it to get off my chest so I told my best friend that I was bi. Then he said, “So am I.” I was so shocked and happy I wasn’t alone. (M/13/Bisexual)
Story #2243
When I came out I could barely hear the words over the sound of my heart pounding. I have always loved my queerness but after the words left my lips I hoped the world would end before anyone responded. I was so nauseous I was worried I was going to puke. My parents said they had no idea but of course they were happy to know and loved me. My friends said “Ohhhhh, that makes sense.” I’ve never received a truly homophobic response to coming out, but I can still feel all the oxygen leave the room when I think of the first time. But I survived. I made it. (F/23/Queer/bisexual)
Story #2242
When I came out as bisexual my friends were very accepting and didn’t make a big deal out of it. Then I discovered I was lesbian and came out to my parents on Lesbian Visibility Day with rainbow cake. My mom thought I was joking at first and my dad reminded me that my sexual orientation could change. Overall though, they were generally accepting and told me they’d love me no matter what.
Story #2241
When I came out to my older brother, he thought I was joking at first: he said I was too picky when it came to guys, and asked me what my type was, and I said, “Women.” He hugged me after and told me he accepted me and would keep my secret… and then started joking about it in front of my mom and making references to lesbian sex whenever he talked about me. I told him that I’d just been confused a couple months later. Sometimes, it’s just not the right time, and that’s ok. (Nonbinary/21/Gay/genderqueer/transgender)
Story #2240
When I came out, I was about to do standardized testing and my school let us use our phones while we waited. I had half an hour before I was going to take the test, and my friend said she was happy that our other friends were having lots of luck in relationships. To her knowledge, I had never liked someone, but I decided to tell her I liked someone and I was gay. She was happy, and I told a few other people. However, I’m fairly sure I failed that test badly because I could not focus for the life of me.
Story #2239
When I came out to my sister (despite having it all planned out for years) I couldn’t bring myself to say it & broke down twice. After finally building the courage to say, she simply replied, “Oh, I’ve always known! It would be just like you telling me *points to paper* that this is paper, water wet, etc.” She told me that even if this was news, nothing would change. Just like that, years of confusion, stress & anxiety eased…and a weight lifted. I think I’ll sleep really well tonight for the first time in a while.
Story #2238
When I came out to my best friend as aroace, she just shrugged and asked me a few questions to understand it better, but otherwise didn’t make it such a big deal. She’s awesome, by the way. On the other hand, when I came out to my parents, they said that it was “just a phase” and that I shouldn’t say that until I know for sure because I’ll find the right person someday, so that made me angry. Otherwise though, my coming-out experience was good. (F/14/Aro/ace)
Story #2237
When I came out, it was to my friends. My girlfriend at the time came out as trans, and I had known that I’d been trans for a pretty long time. I told my friend group. Mostly everyone accepted me, which made me so happy. I go by Matt now, instead of my deadname. But one of my nonsupportive friends keep asking me why I keep trying to be a dude. They shall never know UvU (Male [FtM]/16/Bisexual)
Story #2236
When I came out I was about eleven or twelve. I was openly out at school already, and living in the South some people were definitely dicks about it. On the bus I was practically bullied. My parents knew, but they didn’t know WHY I was getting bullied. I had aggression issues so I hit a bunch of people for picking on me and ended up getting in trouble with the school. So we sat down and they were like, “Okay, talk to us about what’s happening on the bus” and like I just started RANTING: “Just because I’m bisexual doesn’t mean I’m a lesbian, I’m bi! I like boys too!” I didn’t get much of a reaction, really it was just, “Okay, chill out, we think you’re a bit too young, but it’s fine.” It’s been two, almost three years and now I’m very penly bisexual and me and my dad jokes about how I’m gay all the time. (Genderfluid/13/Bisexual polyamorous)